International disputes: Dominica is the only Caribbean state to challenge Venezuela's sovereignty claim over Aves Island and joins the other island nations in challenging whether the feature sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf claims over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea.

Geography

Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-EEK-a) is a
mountainous island of volcanic origin of the Lesser Antilles in the
Caribbean, south of Guadeloupe and north of Martinique.

Government

Parliamentary democracy.

History

Explored by Columbus in 1493, Dominica was
claimed by Britain and France until 1763, when it was formally ceded to
Britain. Along with other Windward Isles, it became a self-governing
member of the West Indies Associated States in free association with
Britain in 1967.

Dissatisfaction with the slow pace of
reconstruction after Hurricane David devastated the island in Sept. 1979
brought a landslide victory to Mary Eugenia Charles of the Freedom Party
in July 1980. The Freedom Party won again in 1985 and 1990. The opposition
United Workers' Party won in June 1995. In 1997, Dominica became the first
Caribbean country to participate in the work of Green Globe, aiming to
make Dominica a model ecotourism destination. Although the island is
poorer than some of its Caribbean neighbors, Dominica has a relatively low
crime rate and does not have the extremes of wealth and poverty evident on
other islands. Economic austerity measures, including higher taxes, were
introduced in 2002. Massive protests followed.

A New President Is Chosen Despite Boycott

In September 2012, Parliament chose Eliud Williams, a former government administrator, to
replace Nicholas Liverpool as president. Liverpool resigned due to health reasons. The United Workers Party, the main opposition party, boycotted the election. The party planned to take the issue to court, claiming that the election process was unconstitutional. Despite the boycott, Williams was expected to remain in office until October 2013, the date of the next general election.

On September 30, 2013, Charles Savarin was elected president in a 19-0 vote by Parliament. Once again the opposition boycotted the election. A member of the Dominica Labour Party, Savarin had previously served as Minister for National Security, Immigration, Labour and the Public Service.